Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar’s announcement on Tuesday to step down as chief of the party he founded and helmed since 1999 left many shocked, with workers and functionaries urging the veteran leader to withdraw his decision.
Hours after dropping the resignation bombshell, Sharad Pawar’s nephew and party leader Ajit Pawar said that the veteran politician has agreed to “rethink” his decision.
“…We told him [Sharad Pawar] that workers are quite upset. We also told him that party workers want him to remain the party president along with having a working president. He said he will rethink his decision and requires 2-3 days…” Ajit Pawar said.
Latest Updates in Row Over Sharad Pawar’s Resignation:
-BJP Leader Predicts Bigger Change in Maharashtra Politics
After NCP president Sharad Pawar announced his decision to step down as the party chief in what is being seen as a dramatic move that could impact Maharashtra politics, BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday also predicted something on similar lines.
BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh said there is going to be a “bigger change” in Maharashtra politics.
Speaking to the news agency YEARSDilip Ghosh said, “Since a lot of days, there has been some turmoil in Maharashtra politics. There have been some talks going on…This is a result of it.”
“NCP’s survival is in jeopardy, Sharad Pawar is losing his power. There is going to be a bigger change in Maharashtra politics…”: Dilip Ghosh added.
#WATCH | “… NCP’s survival is in jeopardy, Sharad Pawar is losing his power. There is going to be a bigger change in Maharashtra politics…”: Dilip Ghosh, BJP National Vice President on Sharad Pawar stepping down as NCP chief pic.twitter.com/R51GXWsU3T— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2023
-NCP Committee Holds Late Night Meet, Refuses to Accept Pawar’s Resignation
Sources said after a meeting which lasted for three hours late last night, NCP committee members refused to accept Sharad Pawar’s resignation and urged him to continue as party president. To help Pawar, a suggestion has also been made to change party constitution and create a new working president or a post of that level, sources said.
Sharad Pawar on Tuesday announced he has decided to step down as chief of the party he founded and helmed since 1999. Pawar had also suggested the formation of a committee to decide “future course of action”.
-Sharad Pawar Will Rethink His Decision to Quit…Needs 2-3 Days, Says Nephew Ajit
Hours after Sharad Pawar announced to step down as the NCP president, nephew and party leader Ajit Pawar said that the veteran politician has agreed to rethink his decision.
“…We told him [Sharad Pawar] that workers are quite upset. We also told him that party workers want him to remain the party president along with having a working president. He said he will rethink his decision and requires 2-3 days…” Ajit Pawar told reporters.
Ajit Pawar said that everyone was taken by surprise at the book launch where the NCP veteran announced his decision to step down as the party chief — a post he held for 24 years.
“We all had gathered for the book launch of saheb [Pawar]. No one thought that he will take such a decision. It was a shock for all,” he told reporters at Y B Chavan Centre in Mumbai.
-Party Shocked After Pawar’s Resignation Bombshell
Sharad Pawar’s sudden decision of stepping down as NCP chief has left top party leaders shocked. While some said Pawar took the decision unilaterally and did not consult them, others tried to pacify party workers.
Top NCP leader, Ajit Pawar, while speaking to the media after Sharad Pawar’s announcement, said that NCP chief’s resignation as president doesn’t mean he is quitting politics. He added that NCP chief Pawar wanted to announce this decision on May 1 but he could not since there was a MVA rally. “We expected this day will come some day,” said Ajit Pawar.
“In Congress party, Sonia ji is still leader but she doesn’t hold the post. We have to consider his age. All functions will happen under his leadership only,” added Ajit Pawar.
Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole also reacted to Pawar’s sudden reaction. “We thought Sharad Pawar will remain in public life till his last breath but we can’t tell why he resigned today. It will not impact Maha Vikas Aghadi [MVA]. We hope the new president of NCP will stay with MVA,” said Patole.
-Sharad Pawar Announces Decision to Step Down as NCP President: ‘One Has to Stop Somewhere’
Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar has announced that he is stepping down from his post. “I have decided to step down as president of NCP,” Pawar made the announcement of his retirement during the release of his autobiography, “Lok Majhe Sangaayi – Political Autobiography”.
While addressing party worker, Pawar said a committee has been formed to decide who will take reins of the party and steer it forward. Senior party leaders like Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil and a few other will be a part of the committee. Supriya Sule, however, has not been named Pawar.
“I know when to stop… I have set up a committee of senior NCP leaders who will decide on the next president,” said Pawar, 82, flanked by his wife Pratibha.
However, the Rajya Sabha member with three more years to go, assured that he would remain active in public life through social-politics, as in the past over 55 years.
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